Public Markets 3d Briefing
×Market Overview
US stock futures wsj.com declined 0.4% as uncertainty over trade policy clouded sentiment. The S&P 500 bloomberg.com fell amid tariff questions while Nvidia bloomberg.com gained ahead of earnings. Hedge funds bloomberg.com sold global equities at the fastest pace since April's tariff meltdown, according to Goldman Sachs traders.
Trade Policy Impact
President Trump imposed a 15% tariff on US imports after the Supreme Court ruling against his sweeping tariffs. The administration plans to impose a 10% global tariff bloomberg.com under Section, declaring all national security tariffs under Section 232 and existing tariffs under Section. China and India bloomberg.com emerged as major winners after the court blocked Trump's tariffs, reversing fortunes for countries hardest hit by the trade measures.
Earnings & Corporate News
Nvidia investing.com is set to report strong results and guidance, analysts say, despite stock falling investing.com amid Stargate project concerns. Novo Nordisk wsj.com shares plunged after its obesity drug failed to beat Eli Lilly's Zepbound in clinical trials. Abbott Laboratories bloomberg.com seeks to raise $20 billion through a bond sale to fund its acquisition of Exact Sciences Corp.
Commodity Markets
US natural gas futures bloomberg.com rose slightly as a blizzard swept the Northeast, pushing up demand for heating fuel. Oil traders bloomberg.com rushed to hedge Iran risk after a wild start to the year, with the market experiencing its strongest beginning since 2022 amid supply shocks and sanctions.
International Markets
Colombia's peso bloomberg.com defied economic and political woes after a hawkish monetary policy pivot reinforced its carry trade appeal. European natural gas futures wsj.com fell in early trading as improving supply offset Middle East tensions. Enel bloomberg.com jumped in Milan trading after announcing a €53 billion investment plan focused on Europe and the US.
Fixed Income & Rates
Abbott Laboratories seeks to raise about $20 billion from a bond sale, marking one of the biggest offerings to hit the market. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent finance.yahoo.com said the department is closely monitoring the private credit market. Bank of Montreal CEO Darryl White bloomberg.com noted market reaction to the Supreme Court's tariff ruling has been subdued.
Technology & AI
China's AI challengers ft.com gained scarcity value as investors took risks on potentially groundbreaking technologies despite distant profitability. AI startups wsj.com are using AI tools to keep staff minimal, though some discover becoming too lean carries risks. Morgan Stanley investing.com upgraded two stocks on an AI-led ABF substrate up-cycle.
Financial Services
BlackRock's Belinda Boa bloomberg.com, an active equity specialist and one of the firm's most senior female executives, is leaving after over 25 years. Turkish bank stocks bloomberg.com have more room to run after their recent rally, with analysts expecting weaker inflation and falling interest rates to boost the sector in 2027.
Infrastructure & Energy
F2i SGR bloomberg.com, Italy's largest independent infrastructure fund manager, brought its credit assets close to €1 billion as demand grows for private financing to modernize European infrastructure. Brazil and India bloomberg.com sealed a rare earth deal amid global supply strains, agreeing to work closely on processing to secure critical mineral supplies.
Consumer & Retail
Packaged food producers ft.com turned to price cuts as US sales stagnated due to inflation, anti-obesity drugs, and a processed foods backlash driving consumers from snack aisles. Cosan SA bloomberg.com is mulling a share sale of its gas and energy business unit as the group seeks to reduce its debt burden.
Real Estate & REITs
Top dividend REITs investing.com for 2026 include two stocks yielding over 16%. Loblaw wsj.com laid out a 2.4 billion Canadian dollar investment plan to build new stores with a focus on value banners while renovating nearly 200 existing locations.
Healthcare & Biotech
Novo Nordisk's Cagri Sema study results delivered less weight loss than Eli Lilly's Zepbound, marking a setback in its obesity-drug market efforts. Merck ft.com split operations to separate oncology from non-cancer drugs in preparation for the 2028 US patent expiry of its blockbuster cancer treatment Keytruda. Generate Biomedicines bloomberg.com seeks to raise as much as $425 million in an IPO, using AI in drug development.
Transportation & Travel
Air Canada investing.com temporarily suspended operations in Mexico's Puerto Vallarta. NYC's transit system bloomberg.com ran despite 15 inches of snow, with most of the system operating on reduced schedules. Thousands of flights bloomberg.com were canceled as a powerful storm ripped up the US East Coast.
Industrial & Manufacturing
US factory orders bloomberg.com fell 0.7% in December while durable goods orders were down 1.4%, according to Census Bureau data. Deere investing.com was downgraded as valuation prices in full farm recovery. Dell investing.com stock target was cut at Bof A on rising memory costs.
Media & Entertainment
AMC Entertainment wsj.com narrowed its loss in the fourth quarter and expressed optimism about 2026, citing a strong slate of upcoming films. Alison Roman bloomberg.com, a cult figure in food media, launched a new line of high-end jarred tomato sauce called A Very Good.
Professional Services
Deloitte ft.com is shaking up its international structure, which will trigger a UK leadership race as operations in 80 countries across Europe and Middle East are bound together. Mawer Investment Management bloomberg.com appointed Eric Wetlaufer as interim CEO while Bruce Geddes takes a leave of absence due to personal circumstances.
Regional Developments
Australia bloomberg.com will keep its beef tariff exemptions from Trump's regime, remaining one of the biggest foreign suppliers to the US. Malaysia's Islamist party bloomberg.com ascended in the opposition coalition shake-up, potentially disrupting the political landscape ahead of a general election.
Legal & Regulatory
A federal judge yahoo.com blocked the release of special counsel Jack Smith's report on the Trump classified documents case. English football teams ft.com face potential bans on sponsorship from unlicensed gambling groups under a government crackdown on black-market betting.